KISSIMMEE — Former Osceola County school superintendent Leon Hobbs has applied for the new position of county administrator.

Hobbs, 39, was defeated by Max Waters in a bid for re-election to the superintendent's seat in a bitter campaign last year. When Hobbs stepped down from office, he took a self-appointed job of assistant principal at Osceola High. Waters did not renominate Hobbs for the job.

In the meantime, said he has been working on his doctorate in administration and supervision. He also had applied for the director of vocational education in Lake County.

Hobbs was the county's deputy superintendent from 1977-79, when he was appointed to fill out the term of Jimmie Fletcher who resigned. He was elected to the office in 1980. A 17-year resident of Osceola County, Hobbs cited 14 years of experience in the school system.

Hobbs said Thursday his credentials would ''give credibility to the county administrator's position,'' and that he has the experience to meet the job requirements.

County commissioners decided to create the new position to free them to deal with policy issues instead of day-to-day administrative matters.

Although the job has not been advertised, three applications already are on file at the county office. Administrative assistant Barbara Miles said advertisements will go in national and local publications next month.

The other applicants are Richard Simmons, city manager of West Palm Beach and a former resident of Osceola County, and Charles Rosebrough, Clay County administrator since 1984. Before he left office, Hobbs was managing a $43.9 million budget. The county's 1985-86 budget is $39.8 million.